This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20579207

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Funding for Lending: Loans rise as scheme starts Funding for Lending: Loans rise as scheme starts
(34 minutes later)
Lending to households and businesses increased slightly in the third quarter of the year as a new scheme began.Lending to households and businesses increased slightly in the third quarter of the year as a new scheme began.
Banks took up £4.4bn in cheap funding from the Bank of England through the new Funding for Lending scheme, and their total net lending rose by £496m.Banks took up £4.4bn in cheap funding from the Bank of England through the new Funding for Lending scheme, and their total net lending rose by £496m.
However, the Bank of England said it was too early to reach any conclusions on how effective the scheme had been.However, the Bank of England said it was too early to reach any conclusions on how effective the scheme had been.
The figures showed that lending by four major UK High Street banks had fallen during the same period.The figures showed that lending by four major UK High Street banks had fallen during the same period.
Lloyds Banking Group, RBS, Santander, and Co-op all saw lending fall during the three months to the end of September.Lloyds Banking Group, RBS, Santander, and Co-op all saw lending fall during the three months to the end of September.
The data has been produced by the Bank as part of its Funding for Lending scheme (FLS), which was launched in August to try to encourage more mortgage and business loans.The data has been produced by the Bank as part of its Funding for Lending scheme (FLS), which was launched in August to try to encourage more mortgage and business loans.
As the scheme was only launched in August, the Bank indicated that it might take time for the funding to flow through to the economy, owing to the time lag in applications, approvals, and drawing on loans.As the scheme was only launched in August, the Bank indicated that it might take time for the funding to flow through to the economy, owing to the time lag in applications, approvals, and drawing on loans.
"I am confident that the FLS will help the supply of credit. The incentives in the scheme are for banks and building societies to cut lending rates and hence lend more to get the cheapest funding," said Paul Fisher, executive director for markets at the Bank of England."I am confident that the FLS will help the supply of credit. The incentives in the scheme are for banks and building societies to cut lending rates and hence lend more to get the cheapest funding," said Paul Fisher, executive director for markets at the Bank of England.
"But it is too early to use these data as a reliable indication of the impact of the FLS on lending volumes.""But it is too early to use these data as a reliable indication of the impact of the FLS on lending volumes."
Bank-by-bank figuresBank-by-bank figures
Under the terms of the scheme, the Bank of England allows commercial banks to borrow funds from it more cheaply, with the intention that the banks then pass this on in the form of cheap loans to households and firms.Under the terms of the scheme, the Bank of England allows commercial banks to borrow funds from it more cheaply, with the intention that the banks then pass this on in the form of cheap loans to households and firms.
The banks will initially access Treasury bills of a value of up to 5% of the funds they currently lend. They are charged 0.25% interest, much less than the going rate.The banks will initially access Treasury bills of a value of up to 5% of the funds they currently lend. They are charged 0.25% interest, much less than the going rate.
The figures published by the Bank of England are unique as they break down lending by institution.The figures published by the Bank of England are unique as they break down lending by institution.
Some 35 lenders are taking part in the scheme, but they do not include HSBC. However, only six institutions had borrowed these cheaper funds by the end of September.Some 35 lenders are taking part in the scheme, but they do not include HSBC. However, only six institutions had borrowed these cheaper funds by the end of September.
The figures show that during the third quarter - which takes in the first two months of the scheme's operation - net lending by Barclays increased by £3.8bn, and rose by £1.8bn at Nationwide Building Society.The figures show that during the third quarter - which takes in the first two months of the scheme's operation - net lending by Barclays increased by £3.8bn, and rose by £1.8bn at Nationwide Building Society.
However, net lending fell by nearly £3.5bn at Santander, by almost £2.8bn at Lloyds Banking Group, by £642m at RBS, and by £5m at the Co-op. However, net lending fell by nearly £3.5bn at Santander, by almost £2.8bn at Lloyds Banking Group, and by £642m at RBS.
RBS said the scheme had still allowed it to cut the costs faced by small businesses to borrow money.RBS said the scheme had still allowed it to cut the costs faced by small businesses to borrow money.
The figures do not offer any estimate on what levels of lending might have taken place if the Funding for Lending scheme had not been introduced.The figures do not offer any estimate on what levels of lending might have taken place if the Funding for Lending scheme had not been introduced.
The increase in the quarter of £496m remains a tiny proportion of the total stock of outstanding loans by the participating banks, accounting for just 0.04%.The increase in the quarter of £496m remains a tiny proportion of the total stock of outstanding loans by the participating banks, accounting for just 0.04%.